This investigation examines effects of anisotropic versus isotropic consolidation in consolidated-undrained triaxial compression tests performed on specimens of two clays consolidated from a slurry in large-diameter consolidometers. Shear strength and corresponding deformation characteristics were developed in both normally consolidated and overconsolidated ranges. Test results indicate that volume changes during consolidation are not a unique function of the major principal consolidation stress but instead are related to the mean effective consolidation stress and the deviator stress during consolidation. Consequently, for a given major principal consolidation stress, the undrained strength of anisotropically consolidated specimens is lower than that of isotropically consolidated specimens.